Humidifying apparatus



Nov. 29, 1932.

E. 1 FONSECA ET AL HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1929 I INV NTOR ATTORN EYS M @m Mfx.

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Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE EDWARD L. FONSECA, F NEWARK, EDWARD MCK. HUNT, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, AND MARVIN C. BARNUM, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO THE WILCOLATOR COMPANY, 0F NEW'ARK, NEVI JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Application led July 27,

This invention relates toa humidifying apparatus and has particular reference to apparatus which will continuously refresh the air of a room by providing it with the proper degree of humidity, and which also purifies the air by washing it Without requiring the introduction of outside air o-r positive air circulating means.

In a copending application, Serial No. 346,285, filed March 12, 1929 by Edward L. Fonseca. and Edward McK. Hunt, there is disclosed a humidifying and air conditioning apparatus of the type described, over which the present invention provides certain improvements and modilications.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a humidifying apparatus of the type described which is inexpensive to manufacture, install, inspect and maintain, which has no moving parts, is fool-proof and not likely to get out of order during long periods of opera-tion.

This and other objects are obtained in a preferred embodiment of the inventionk which comprises a main body shaped to lit through an opening in a wall between the studs thereof, this body being supported partly inthis opening and partly Vbehind the wall below this opening upon a ledge carried by the body and resting upon the lower edge of the wall opening. The body is emplaced in the wall by inserting the lower part of the body through the wall opening at an angle, lowering it into the space behind the wall until its ledge engages the lower edge of the opening, and then pushing the upper end of the body into the space between the studs, where it maintains a normally upright position. A removable hood is then placed on the body, which protects it from dust and plaster particles which fall between the walls. The opening in the wall is then covered by means of a panel, door or other decora-tive cover having louvre openings at the top and bot tom, or the wall may be plastered over, leaving upper'and lower louvre openings. In either of these arrangements, it is not necessary to remove the panel or other covering in order to inspect, clean, repair or adjust the apparatus, for the reason that the louvres 1929. Serial N0. 381,572.

are provided with relatively movable grill members, which may either be spread apart or removed so that an operator may insertl his hand through the louvre opening to make adjustments, repairs or clean the apparatus.

The air is washed, humidiiied and, if desired, warmed or cooled by sprays of water or other liquid passing through vertically disposed tubes through which lis induced a current of air which enters the upper louvre opening and emerges from the lower louvre opening, whereby the air of the roo-m is continuously circulated, purified and refreshed without the addition of outside air. Because the hissing of the water emerging from the spray nozzles, although practically inaudible, may bey objectionable, it is preferred that the tubes through which the liquid sprays pass be made of nonresonant material such as fibre or the like.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a face view of the humidifying apparatus of this invention set into an aperture in a wall; j

Fig. `2 is an enlarged vertical section through the apparatus as seen along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a face view of the apparatus with the cover plate mounted thereover;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the removable hood of the apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of thedrip gutter of the apparatus.

In the drawing, numeral 10 designates the wall of a room in which the humidifying apparatus of this invention is to be mounted, the studs in the wall being designated 1-1. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the aperture cut in the wall between the studs 11 is less in length than the overall length of the humidifying apparatus identified by numeral 12. This wall aperture may be cut in an old wall already plastered over, or may be formed when building a new wall, the dimensions of the resultant recess being governed in width by the space between studs and in depth by the depth of the studs. Framing the aperture in the wall is a frame preferably made of standard angle iron strips 13 fitted together with right angle corner strips 13', as shown particularly in Fig. 1. 'These strips are secured over the edge of the cut plaster as shown in Fig. 2.

rlhe unitary main body or casing 12 of the humidifying apparatus includes a lower header 14 of sheet metal such as copper, shaped with an inwardly-disposed ledge 15 adapted to cooperate with and rest upon the lower edge of the an gle iron fra-me 13, whereby the main body or casing 12 of the apparatus is supported in a vertical position within the space between opposite surfaces of the wall 10. The lower portion of the header 14 projects downwardly below ledge 15, and is closed by an elongated cup-shaped sump casting 16 provided with bosses 17 and 18 for the intake and outlet pipes 19 and 20, respectively. The rear surface 14 of header 14 is tapered inwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to facilitate the insertion of the main body or casing 12 of the apparatus at an angle in the manner shown in phantom in Fig. 2.

The front wall of header 14 is provided with a rectangular opening 21, and its lower edge terminates slightly above the ledge 15, leaving an elongated slit'22 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Mounted at an angle along the front edge of the casing 14 at ledge 15 and across slit 22 so as to form a gutter, is the sheet metal piece 23, shown particularly in perspective in Fig. 5, and which is bent inwardly at the ends and soldered or otherwise secured to the front surface of header 14. This gutter serves to collect the drip from the louvre which then flows through slit 22 into the interior of header 14.

The header 14 is provided with a bottom plate 24 having a discharge opening 25 which is covered by the screen cone 26 adapted to prevent the passage of grit or the like into discharge pipe 20. Also mounted in header 14 is a suitable baffle system 27, which is adapted to remove surplus water from the air flowing out of opening 21 and deflect this air in the proper direction through lateral opening 21.

Inserted through openings in the upper surface ofheader 14 are a pair of circular tubes 28. These tubes 28 are preferably made of non-resonant material, such as fibre or any other non-metallic material, or may consist of a metal tube coated with non-resonant material, whereby the vibrations which cause noise when the water spray fiows :therethrough are dampened. The upper ends of these tubes 28 are set in and carry a horizontaltop plate having front, side and rear flanges 30.

Mounted upon horizontal plate 29 and partially inserted therethrough is the water filter 31, through the bottom of which passes the water intake pipe 19 and in opposite sides of which are mounted discharge pipes 32 equipped with shut-olf valves 33 and carrying the elbows 34, to which are connected noa-- zles 35. Nozzles 35 are located axially of tubes 28, and are arranged to produce a fine conical spray of water in each tube 28, which Closes the tubes 28, and in moving downwardly, creates a current of air through tubes 28, this air being washed and humidified at the same time as it passes through the spray.

Placed upon horizontal top plate 29 be- `1ween the flanges 30 thereof, is hood 36 formed of sheet metal such as copper with an open bottom and front side and curved top, as shown in perspective in Fig. 4. rllhis hood 36 is adapted to fit over the upper openings of tubes 28, and provide a lateral intake opening 37 communicating with the open ends of tubes 28. Hood 36 alsoserves to protect the apparatus against pieces of plaster, dirt and the like which fall between the walls, and is removable from top plate 29, merely resting between the flanges thereof. The body or casing 12 of the apparatus is secured in its normal vertical position by means of brackets 39 attached to thc under side of top plate 29 and adapted to be screwed to the inner edges of frame 13.

Mounted over the opening in the wall 10 and secured to the angle iron frame 13 is a suitable cover plate 39 having openings 40 and 41 registering with openings 37 and 21, respectively, of the apparatus 12. This cover plate 39 may be in the form of a door hinged at one edge, simply a cover plate secured to frame 13 by means of screws 42, a decorative panel, a mirror, or any other suitable covering which will serve the purpose. lf desired, the openings 37 and 21 may be framed with separate frames 43 and 44, which are shown in Fig. 3 as parts of covering 39, and the-space intervening between frames 43 and 44 may be plastered over permanently.

Although cover plate 39, including the frames 43 and 44, is adapted to be emplaced more or less permanently, access must be had to the interior of the apparatus 12 from time to time for cleaning, repair and adjustment. For example, valves 33, whereby the water spray produced by nozzles 35 may be regulated, are located immediately behind upper opening 37, with which opening 40 in frame 43 registers, and the screen cone 26 is arranged so that it may be removed and cleaned through opening 21, with which frame opening 41 registers. ln order that such access may be had to these parts, the louvre grills 45 and 46 mounted across the openings 40 and 41 of frames 43 and 44. respectively, are made relatively movable. As an example of such relatively movable grills, tightly coiled springs are conveniently employed, these springs being secured upon hooks 47, mounted. upon tae rear surfaces of frames 43 and along the upper and lower edges of respective louvre openings 40 and 41 thereof. These coil spring grills and 46 are spaced apart any convenient distance, are wound tightly so as to resemble rigid rods, and are preferably made of non-corrosive wire such as copper or brass, or are painted. In order to have access to spray-regulating valves 33, for eX- ample, the operator may thrust his hand between two adjacent grills 45, these grills yielding laterally as shown in phantom in Fig. 3, to permit this adjustment of valves 33. Similarly, grills 46 of lower louvre opening 41 may be spread apart for the same purpose. In many instances it will not be necessary to make all of the grills 45 and 46 relatively movable, in which case only a few of such spring grills need be supplied. Other alternative arrangements of relatively movable grills may be provided, such as making the grills 45 and 46 of rigid rods, which may be moved upwardly or downwardly in guides or removed entirely to permit access to the interior of apparatus 12. A valve may shut oil the water and the lilter and nozzles may be removed as a unit by union 49.

`1n installing the apparatus in the wall 10 of a building, the recess in the wall is framed with frame 1.3 in the manner described. The unitary main body or casing 12 of the apparatus, which includes alll parts except the hood 36, is then inserted into the wall recess at an angle as shown in phantom in Fig. 2. It is then temporarily blocked up above the lower edge of frame 13 so as to leave a space through which the pipes 19 and 20 may be screwed into bosses 17 and 18, respectively.

After beingso connected. the main body or casing 12 is let down until ledge 15 thereof engages and rests upon the lower edge of frame 13. While in this position, the upper end of the main body or casing 12 is pushed inwardly into the recess of the wall and the brackets 39 screwed to frame 13. The hood 36 is then placed upon top plate 29 between the flanges 13. Connections are then madeA tol intake pipe 18 and drain pipe 19 by means of unions 48', these connections being made at some distances below the floor of the room in which the apparatus is mounted, such as in the basement or the like. Then the cover plate 13 equipped with the louvre frames 43 and 44 is mounted over the apparatus, or the louvre trames 43 and 44 alone are mounted in place so that the louvre openings 40 and 41 register with the openings 37 and 21, respectively, of the casing 12. r1`he space intervening between louvre trames 43 and 44 may then be plastered over or otherwise covered.

In operation, the water to nozzles 35 is turned on by means of valves 33 and regulated thereby to produce a spray of the proper velocity to obtain the required air change produced by the sprays of nozzles 35 passing downwardly through tubes 28. After passing through tubes 28 the water impinges upon baille 27 and flows away through drain cone 26, opening 25 in bottom plate 24 and drain pipe 19. The current of air drawn from the room through louvre opening 40, pipes 28 and discharged through louvre opening 41, is humidified vand washed, and is cooled to a slight degree, depending upon the temperature of the water used. It the air is to be cooled considerably, the water may be refrigerated, and it the air is to be warmed, the water may be heated before being distributed to the nozzles 35. The grills 46 in lower louvre opening 41 collect a certain amount of water from the air flowing out of louvre opening 41, and this water, and such other water as is deposited upon the front of lower header 14, flows downwardly and drips into gutter' 23,ro1n which it flo-ws through slit 22 into the sump 16 ot lower header 14.

It will be seen that this invention provides a humidifying apparatus which is readily installed in the wall of a building, whether a new building or an old building, without great labor or requiring especial skill. The parts of the apparatus are few innumber, viz., before assembly, are only three in number including the main body or casing 12, the hood 36, frame 13 and the cover plate 39, in addition to a few screws and the like. The apparatus is very efcient for conditioning the air of a room by reeirculating it again and again, while washing it and humiditying it automatically without requiring any attention beyond occasional inspection. The non-resonant tubes 28 minimize the noise of the water spray, so that the aparatus is not noticeable because of noise, nor is it noticeable because of objectionable appearance, but, on the contrary, may be constructed and arranged to be decorative and generally pleasing in appearance.

We claim:

1. In a humidifying apparatus, the combination of a casing adapted to be inserted in and removed at will from a recess in a wall,

a ledge thereon adapted to engage the wall and forming the sole support for the casing, separate air passages communicating with the interior of the casing, and liquid spray means in said casing for creating a current of air into one of said openings, through said casing and out ot the other of said openings.

2. In a humiditying apparatus, the combination of a casing adapted to be inserted in and removed at will from a recess in a wall, a ledge' Jformed intermediate the ends of said casing adapted to engage the wall and forming'the sole support for the casing, said casing having spaced air intake and air outlet openings communicating with the interior thereoic located at one side of said ledge, and liquid spray means in said casing for creating a current of air into the intake opening, through said casing and out of the outlet opening'.

3. ln a humiditying apparatus, the combination of a casing adapted to be inserted in a recess in a wall, a ledge formed intermediate the ends of said casing adapted to cooperate with the wall for supporting the casing, a hood :tor said casing forming an upper intake opening, said casing having a lower outlet opening, and liquid spray means in said casingv creating a current of air into said hood intake opening, through said casing and out of said outlet opening, said hood being removable to permit insertion and removal ot said casing from the recess. l

4. ln a humidifying apparatus, the combination ot a casing adapted to be inserted in a recess in a wall, said casing having an open top end, a hood removably mounted over the open end of said casing and having a louvre opening, said casing having a louvre opening spaced below said hood louvre opening, and liquid spray means in said casing for creating a current of air into the hood louvre open ing, through. said casing and out of the lower louvre opening, said hood being removable to permit insertion and removal of said casing trom the recess.

5. 1n a humidifying apparatus, the combination of a casing adapted to be inserted in a recess in a wall, said casing having an opening in its upper end, a hood removably mounted over said opening and having a lateral opening communicating therewith, said casing having a lateral opening communicating with the interior thereof and spaced below said hood lateral opening, movable grills over said lateral openings, and liquid spray means in said casing for creating a current of air into one of said lateral openings, through said casing and out of the other of said lateral openings, said hood being removable to permit insertion and removal of said casino".

6. in a humidifying apparatus, the combination ot a casing adapted to be` inserted in a recess in a wall, a ledge Jformed intermediate the ends of said casing adapted to cooperate with the wall for supporting the casing, said casing having upper and lower openings communicating with the interior thereof, a hood removably enclosing the upper opening and having an opening communicating with the upper casing opening, grills mounted over the hood and lower casing openings, and liquid spray means in said casing for creating a current of air into the hood opening and out of the lower casing opening, said hood being removable to permit insertion and removal oi said casing from the recess.

7. In a humidifying device, the combination of a casing having spaced openings, a frame surrounding each opening, a plurality of coiled springs stretched across each frame to form a grill, whereby access may be had to the interior of the casing by bending said springs apart, and liquid spray means in said easing 'for creating a current ot air into one of the openings, through said casing and out of the other opening.

V8. In a humidifying apparatus adapted to be inserted in and removed at will from a recess in the wall, the combination of a lower header having a lateral discharge opening, a ledge on said header below said opening adapted to engage the wall and forming the sole support for the apparatus in the wall recess, at least one tube extending upwardly from said header and discharging therein, a hood enclosing the upper end of said tube and having a. lateral opening, aliquid spray device in said tube for creating a current of air into the hood lateral opening, through said tube and out of the header lateral opening.

9. ln a humidifying apparat-us adapted to be inserted in a recess in the wall, the combination of a lower header having a lateral discharge opening. a ledge on said header below opening adapted to cooperate with the wall for supporting the apparatus in the vwall recess, at least one tube extending upwardly from said header and discharging therein, a plate mounted upon the upper end of said tube, a filter mounted upon said plate, a water pipe discharging into said iilter, a nozzle connected to the `filter for directing a spray downwardly through said tube, a hood removably mounted upon saidplate and having a lateral intake opening communicating with the upper end of said tube, whereby a current of air is created by the water spray into the hood lateral intake opening, through said tube and out of the header lateral discharge opening.

l0. In a humiditying apparatus, the combination oi a supporting frame adapted to be mounted in a recess in a wall, a casing adapted to be inserted in the frame and eX- tend below the lower edge thereof, a ledge on said casing cooperating with the lower edge of said frame for supporting said casing in a vertical position, said casing having an intake opening adjacent the upper edge of said frame and an outlet opening adjacent the lower edge ot said frame, and liquid spray means in said casing for creating a current of air into the intake opening, through said casing and out oit said outlet opening.

l1. ln a humiditying apparatus, the combination of a supporting trame adapted to be mounted in a recess in a wall, Va casing adapted to b-e inserted in the trame and eX- tend below the lower edge thereof, a ledge on said casing cooperating with the lower edge of said frame tor supporting said casing in a vertical position, said casing having an intake opening adjacent the upper edge ot said frame and an outlet opening adjacent the lower edge of said' trame, a removable hood for said casing having an opening communicating with the intake opening, means tor removably securing said hood to said frame, and liquid spray means in said easing for creating a current of air into the intake opening, through the casing and out of the outlet opening.

I2. In a humidifying apparatus adapted to be inserted in an aperture in a wall, the combination of a frame adapted to be secured to the wall to frame the aperture therein, a Casing having air intake and air outlet openings adapted to be inserted bodily into the aperture, a ledge on said easing adapted to Cooperate with. said frame for supporting said casing in said aperture, and means for inducing a current of air through said casing and said openings therein.

I3. In a humidifying apparatus adapted to be inserted in an aperture in a wall, the combination of a frame adapted to be seeured to the wall to frame the aperture therein, a casing having air intake and air outlet openings adapted to be inserted bodily into the aperture, a ledge on said casing adapted to cooperate with said frame for supporting said casing in said aperture, means for indue ing a current of air through said easing and said openings therein, and a cover plate removably mounted on said frame for covering the aperture and easing therein, said cover plate having openings adapted to register with the openings in said casing.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

EDWARD MCK. HUNT.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

EDWARD L. FONSECA. In testimony whereof I aEX my signature.

MARVIN C. BARNUM. 

